Leslie McCormick





Philosophy and Fascination with Vampires
By Leslie McCormick

I have loved Vampires since I was 8, that was the age I watched my first vamp movie, I was immediately

entranced with the tall eerie caped figure that was portrayed by Frank Langella. Langella, who plays Dracula, is

a sensual, charismatic aristocrat with a supremely erotic and hypnotic vibe. The undead possess the kind of

classic beauty that could only be found by ancient Gods.

Vampiric entities have been found in folk tales of many cultures such as the Romans, Serbians and

ancient Greeks. These cultures believe that vampires have been around since ancient times; one of the earliest

accounts of vampirism is found in ancient Sumerian, and Babylonian myth (4,000 B.C). It describes Ekimumu

(one who is snatched away) as a type of demon or spirit not buried properly, returning to vengefully suck the life

out of the living.

It was not until the 18th century that vampires were prevalent in Europe. Many traditional stories were told

of revenant evil beings, malevolent spirits that possessed dead bodies, or bit and drank the blood of animals or

humans. Vampires were usually described as bloated with purplish or dark skin, which was attributed to the

feasting of blood. In Slavic, Albanian, or Turkish folklore, vampires were said to once have been witches, or

people who had rebelled against the Church, the term Vlokodlasi was used in various Slavic languages when

refering to vampires. What has sparked the fascination or rather an obession with these creatures? Our

generation has become so obsessed with sex, death, immortality, wealth ,power and supernatural beings, that the

vampire now reflects the values and social structure of the culture that it exist in.

Rebellious behavior, forbidden pleasures, and a desire to have what we all cannot, what we have been

warned against, all contribute to this fascination with the undead. Romantic fantasy has been part of the

American culture for some time now, but there also seems to be a connection between sexuality and danger. In

accepting the ways of the vampire, we are changing mores and taboos, now it’s hot to brink blood and have sex

with a rock.

---

---